CCSA is a private, nonprofit corporation dedicated to leading efforts to strengthen accessible and affordable quality early care and education by providing supports for families, communities, and the workforce. Established in 1974, the agency has extensive experience administering national, statewide and county level outcome-driven programs addressing critical issues facing children, parents and child care providers. CCSA receives funding from a variety of sources including both public and private dollars.
Much of CCSA’s work has evolved from research done by the agency. Quality child care is linked to the education and stability of the workforce. In response to research about the early childhood workforce, CCSA created the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Program, Child Care WAGE$® Program and Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$®. These statewide programs have improved the workforce by increasing education and compensation and reducing turnover and have been replicated across the country. Currently, T.E.A.C.H. is licensed in more than 20 additional states and WAGE$ licensed in other states as well. From its inception, CCSA has provided scholarships to low-income families and professional development and technical assistance services to child care programs. CCSA has provided resource and referral services since July 1996, has been nationally certified and is an IACET approved deliverer of Continuing Education Units (CEUs). CCSA began by providing CCR&R services for Orange County only, later expanding into Durham and Wake counties. CCSA serves as the lead agency for Wake, Durham, Orange, Alamance, Caswell, Franklin, Granville, Person and Vance counties.
Currently, CCR&R services provided by CCSA include referrals, scholarships, technical assistance, professional development, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and a child care meal service program. CCSA is based in Chapel Hill and Durham.